Gm: Strict Liability Needed as Biotech Companies Hide From Costs
Thu., February 26, 2004. 00:00.
Following the refusal of GM companies to accept liability for GM contamination and pollution reported today(1), Mark Ruskell, Green MSP and Environment Speaker, repeated his call for the Scottish Executive to clarify its position on GM, and to support a Green Bill on GM liability currently being consulted on in the Scottish Parliament.
Greens want biotech companies to bear strict liability for any economic losses that may be suffered if, or when, GM crops are grown in Scotland, and for any damage caused by crop trials. At the present time, Scots law is unclear, and there is no guarantee that a conventional or organic farmer would receive compensation if their crop became contaminated by GM material.
The biotechnology companies who are developing GM crops have so far refused to accept any liability for damages. Farmers in countries where GM crops are grown have been hit hard by losses caused by GM contamination. Export markets have collapsed and many farmers have lost their organic and GM-free status. Several farmers have been sued by the biotech industry when they have been found to be growing GM inadvertently.
Leaked minutes from a Cabinet meeting held on the 11th of February show that the UK government is considering a compensation scheme that would be funded by the GM industry. However, Paul Rylott, head of bioscience at Bayer CropScience and head of the Agricultural Biotechnology Council is adamant that there will be no financial support for such a compensation fund from UK biotech companies.
Mark Ruskell said: 'There is a clear rift emerging between the UK government, farming unions and the biotech industry. We have seen the example from North America where farmers have lost money following contamination by GM pollen and seed. The biotech industry must accept strict liability for damage caused by their products - the polluter should pay.'
The biotech industry insists that farmers must seek insurance based solutions to the contamination problem. However, neither farmers who wish to grow GM crops nor those wishing to remain GM-free can currently buy insurance cover. Sources within the insurance industry have compared GM crops to asbestos, thalidomide and acts of terrorism in terms of their insurability.
Mr Ruskell concluded: 'The biotech industry wants to avoid liability for all of the drawbacks of GM crops. They charge high prices for the seeds, but when things go wrong, they don't want to know. It's time they accepted responsibility for the problems that will certainly happen if these crops get the go ahead. That the industry appears to be running scared of liability is a sure sign that they know GM will wreak havoc with organic and GM-free markets and contaminate the environment.'
Notes to editors
(1)
Paul Rylott, head of bioscience at Bayer CropScience and head of the Agricultural Biotechnology Council was reported in today's Guardian newspaper as saying that the biotech industry would 'under no circumstances' pay for a compensation fund.
(2)
Green Liability Bill consultation paper is available at: www.which.net/campaigns/food/gm/misc/gm_liability.pdf
For further information contact the Green MSP press Office on 0131 348 6360
Contact the Scottish Greens' press team on 07909 933 074.